Disney World, Orlando 2015

Starring :

Tony & Julie Williamson as Pops (Goofy) & Mama Julz (Mrs Incredible)

Ellen Williamson & Aaron Gillen as Tinkerbell & Buzz

Nicole Williamson & Sean Hadfield as Belle & Nemo

View the whole gallery here.

12th June 2015

Fly from Glasgow to Orlando International Airport
Travel by Disneys Magical Express to Disneys Wilderness Lodge
Grab some chilli to eat and beers to drink at the Old Faithful Club (what free?)
Early to bed as its an early start at Magic Kingdom tomorrow

13th June 2015

Early start, waiting for the boat at 8:30
Breakfast at the Crystal Palace
Stitches Great Escape, Buzz Lightyear (Aaron won), Space Mountain, Splash Mountain & Big Thunder Railroad before retiring back to the hotel to attempt to snooze
Back to Magic Kingdom for tea at Tony’s (cold canneloni and slow service saw us “win” a fastpass)
Ellen & Aaron brave it out until 1:30am while Tony, Julie, Nicole and Sean head back to the hotel to crash

14th June 2015

Julie & Tony get up early to visit Downtown Disney to get the Disney “tat” voucher, do the business then get an early bus from Saratoga Springs to Epcot
We all meet up around lunchtime for Test Track and Mission Space (urgh)
Quick run round the world showcase to sample some Moroccan food
Trek back for Nemo’s Undersea adventure and a trip through Spaceship Earth
Margarita’s followed by tea in St Angel Inn
Watch the fireworks and a quick run out of Epcot to the buses

15th June 2015

No lie in because Julie, Tony and Nicole are off to find a bra. Bus to Downtown Disney and taxi to Premium Outlets
Met everyone else at Hollywood Studios at lunchtime
No fastpass for Rockin’ Rollercoaster but we queued anyway
Then Tower of Terror, Star Tours and Toy Story Mania (Aaron won again)
Tea at the Dine In Movie Theatre – amazing milkshakes
Fantasmic followed by a couple of drinks as Ellen and Aaron tough it out on the late night rides yet again.

16th June 2015

On the bus to Animal Kingdom
Straight to Dinosaur and the whirly dinosaur roller coaster thingy
Everest, Kali River Rapids (Aaron wins the “I’m Wet” prize) and then Kilimanjaro Safari (Elephants, Giraffes, Hipos, Emu’s, White Rhinos, Deer, Antelope)
Back to Wilderness Lodge for a “snack” tea
And then on the boat to Magic Kingdom to watch the parades and shows. Then Julie & Tony went for wander, Nicole & Sean went shopping and Ellen & Aaron queued (again) for Space Mountain

17th June 2015

A day of rest
Julie & Tony go to Epcot
Nicole, Sean, Ellen and Aaron sleep for-ev-er
Visit to Downtown Disney in the evening and Crab Claws for tea at Fultons Crab House (Ellen’s face a picture).

18th June 2015

Back to Hollywood Studios
No fastpasses so early entry to get on Rockin’ Rollercoaster and Tower of Terror again.
Sean & Nicole head back for a rest while Ellen, Aaron, Tony & Julie eye up Pizza Planet for lunch. No luck though – too busy and we can’t be bothered to wait.
Back to the hotel and get ready for our last evening in Magic Kingdom
Tea at the Liberty Tree Tavern (best food ever) followed by Peter Pan, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain (Aaron avoiding a dodgy picture pose by hiding behind his umberella hat).

19th June 2015

Aaron & Tony head out to pick up the car from Disney Car Care and get the option of a monster Suburban truck (politely declined).
Head back to pick up the others (only visiting one park by accident on the way back) and jam in the suitcases (oh Suburban where were you).
Drive to Florida Premium Outlets (whoever inventing GPS deserves a medal) where everyone spent too much in the Nike shop
The a short drive to find a Publix near the villa (well it would have been short if we could’ve found it) to stock up on beer and, well, beer.
Arrive at the villa, unpack and chill
Beers drunk and Papa Johns pizza ordered. Sorry. Too much Papa John pizza ordered.

20th June 2015

21st June 2015

Universal Studios. Thank goodness for Sat Nav
Straight onto Rip Rocket to get pummelled
Quick fire hits on the Mummys Revenge (x2) then up to Gringots Bank to see Harry and co
Men In Black and The Simpsons follow in quick succession (although the “pukers” as we like to call Julie, Sean and Nicole sat The Simpsons out)
Lunch of nom nom Tacos then back to Twister, Disaster Movie and the (my) highlight of the park, Transformers (even Nicole queued)
Head back to the villa for pool, beers and food.
Barbeque for tea where Tony braved the insects outside the mesh and narrowly avoided giving Ellen raw chicken (“this chicken has a funny texture”) poisoning

22nd June 2015

Well you can’t theme park everyday so what’s a Squad to do but head to the water park – Blizzard Beach
Julie & Tony braved the Lazy River (and cinnamon mini donuts)
Nicole, Ellen, Sean and Aaron braved Summit Plummit. Crazy Fools!
Everyone (except Aaron) managed to avoid getting sun burn
Everyone (except Julie & Tony) managed to get battered and bruised by the slides
Back to the villa for tea (left over salad etc) and storm watching

23rd June 2015

Universal Islands of Adventure. Thank goodness for Sat Nav.
Hulk. Say no more.
The “children” decide to buy ponchos for Ripsaw Falls and Popeye’s Bilge Rats. Losers.
As it turns out, I wish I’d bought a poncho, and Julie wins the “I’m Wet” prize of the day.
Jurassic Park River adventure – that T-Rex wasn’t there last time and on to the Dragon Challenge (twice – blue rails and red rails). Proper roller coasters.
Head back to the entrance and grab a sneaky Frapuccino while Ellen and Sean face Dr Doom’s Fear Fall
Plan to visit Downtown Disney in the evening but the Thunderstorms frightened us off so head to Logans Roadhouse for a bucket of peanuts, air conditioning, hard nipples and tea

24th June 2015

Up earlyish for a trip to the East Coast.
Head to Kennedy Space Centre (thank goodness for Sat Nav).
See Pad 39 (where the moon landing launched from), the assembly buildings, rocket transporter, Saturn V, Gemini capsule, Atlantis, spacesuits, moon rocks. Absolutely awesome. Not completely sure Ellen agreed but think it grew on her.
Headed South to Cocoa Beach so Julie could swim from the Atlantic seaboard.
Julie paddled from the Atlantic seaboard.
Then the T-Storms caught us up so we hightailed it back through toll after toll, after toll, after toll.
Decided to head to Downtown Disney got scared by storms again but toughed it out. Tried the Irish Pub for tea but too busy (what?)
Next place we tried only had outdoor dining – and we’re too T-Storm wimpy to try that
So head to some food vans (Ellens cries of “I’m fed up of eating on the hoof” going unheeded) for flat breads. Which were actually quite nice.
Tony, Sean, Aaron and Nicole managed an hour in Disney Quest. Given a chance Sean and Aaron would still be there. Julie and Ellen just sat and drank.

25th June 2015

Final park day visit to Universal. Planned with complete precision.
Hulk, Spiderman, Hogwarts, Dragons (Blue & Red), Hogwarts Express
Then it all went wrong – other queues just too big.
Sean and Nicole went on the Simpsons ride. Sean returned looking greener than the Grinch. Puker.
Ellen and Aaron gawped at DiagonAlley (so did Julie & Tony)
Met up again for a burger and then headed out
Trip to the supermarket to get the tea of choice
Drank as much of the remaining booze as we could
Messed about in the pool (probably dangerous given the previous statement but hey, we all survived)
Watched the T-Storms one last time.

26th June 2015

Dare 2 Paddle